KABUL: The leader of the Afghan opposition group resisting Taliban forces in the Panjshir valley north of Kabul said on Sunday he welcomed proposals from religious scholars for a negotiated settlement to end the fighting.
Ahmad Massoud, head of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRFA), made the announcement on the group's Facebook page. Earlier, Taliban forces said they had fought their way into the provincial capital of Panjshir after securing the surrounding districts.
"The NRF in principle agree to solve the current problems and put an immediate end to the fighting and continue negotiations," Massoud said in the Facebook post.
"To reach a lasting peace, the NRF is ready to stop fighting on condition that Taliban also stop their attacks and military movements on Panjshir and Andarab," he said, referring to a district in the neighbouring province of Baghlan.
Earlier, Afghan media outlets reported that an Ulema council of religious scholars had called on the Taliban to accept a negotiated settlement to end the fighting in Panjshir.
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Afghan opposition leader Massoud says he is ready for talks with Taliban
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Afghan opposition leader Massoud says he is ready for talks with Taliban
- NRF ready to stop fighting on condition that Taliban also stop their attacks on Panjshir and Andarab: Massoud
- Earlier, Taliban forces said they had fought their way into the provincial capital of Panjshir
Ukraine says it hit Russian oil rig, patrol ship in Caspian Sea
KYIV: Ukraine said its drones struck a Russian oil rig belonging to Lukoil in the Caspian Sea and a military patrol ship near a rig as Kyiv steps up attacks on Moscow’s oil infrastructure.
The attack, which Ukraine’s general staff said took place on Friday, is one of a string of strikes targeting Russian drilling infrastructure in the Caspian Sea in recent weeks, but the first one that the Ukrainian military acknowledged officially. A drilling platform of the Filanovsky oil rig was damaged in the attack, according to the Ukrainian military. The rig came under drone attacks at least two more times in December.
Reuters was not able to confirm the report. Lukoil was not available for immediate comment.
Ukraine says that Russian oil infrastructure is a legitimate target since the trade revenue is Russia’s main source for financing its almost four-year-old full-on war against the country.
The general staff added that a military patrol ship was targeted in the strike as well, and the level of damage was being assessed.
Ukraine has been attacking Russian oil refineries throughout 2024 and 2025, but has visibly widened its campaign in recent weeks, claiming credit for sea-drone attacks on Russian shadow fleet tankers in the Black Sea and Mediterranean.
The attack, which Ukraine’s general staff said took place on Friday, is one of a string of strikes targeting Russian drilling infrastructure in the Caspian Sea in recent weeks, but the first one that the Ukrainian military acknowledged officially. A drilling platform of the Filanovsky oil rig was damaged in the attack, according to the Ukrainian military. The rig came under drone attacks at least two more times in December.
Reuters was not able to confirm the report. Lukoil was not available for immediate comment.
Ukraine says that Russian oil infrastructure is a legitimate target since the trade revenue is Russia’s main source for financing its almost four-year-old full-on war against the country.
The general staff added that a military patrol ship was targeted in the strike as well, and the level of damage was being assessed.
Ukraine has been attacking Russian oil refineries throughout 2024 and 2025, but has visibly widened its campaign in recent weeks, claiming credit for sea-drone attacks on Russian shadow fleet tankers in the Black Sea and Mediterranean.
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